Group fights Camp parole

The Brian Deneke Memorial Committee is sponsoring a petition opposing parole for Dustin Camp, but Camp's attorney said Friday he hopes parole board members will make a decision based on evidence.

On Sept. 7, 108th District Judge Abe Lopez ruled Camp violated his 10-year probation and sentenced him to eight years in prison.

Camp's probation violation stemmed from a June 16 incident in which Camp, now 21, consumed alcohol, violated the law against underage drinking, evaded arrest and left his residence during curfew hours, according to court records.

On The Net:

Brian Deneke Memorial Committee petition: petitionpetition.com

Camp originally was charged with murder in Deneke's death, but a Potter County jury convicted him of manslaughter in 1999. The jury sentenced him to serve 10 years of probation and pay a $10,000 fine.

The conviction arose out of a Dec. 12, 1997, melee at the Western Plaza parking lot when Camp ran over Deneke with a Cadillac, killing the 19-year-old.

The petition, which is being sent to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, complains that Camp should not be released early. The petition is being circulated via the World Wide Web.

The petition said Camp becomes eligible for parole June 7 and urges that Camp serve a full prison term.

"Camp is a remorseless killer who has been given the benefit of every doubt," the petition reads. "Camp has all but laughed in the face of our judicial system by his flagrant disregard for it. It is time that Dustin Michael Camp is held accountable for his actions."

Camp's attorney, Vance Ivy, had not yet seen the petition. Ivy said, however, he hopes the parole board makes its decision based on reason and not because of various signatures gathered over the Internet. He confirmed that Camp comes up for parole in June.

"I hope when the three of them meet, they just look at what type of prisoner Dustin has been, look at all the facts surrounding his case and the fact that he's in there because of what I consider a very minor probationary infraction, which is drinking a beer," he said. "If his last name wasn't Camp he wouldn't be in there because they never would have sent him to prison."

District Attorney Rebecca King, whose office prosecuted Camp, said she has not received any information about Camp's parole, but likely would oppose an early release.

"I have had no official notification of his parole and I do get them," she said. "Should we receive that we likely would protest that. For the major crimes, we do ask for a major portion of their sentence to be served."